NORTHEAST OHIO Nurses union and hospital tentatively agree on pact

AKRON (AP) -- Striking nurses at Akron General Medical Center reached a tentative contract agreement to end a walkout that began June 17.
The hospital and union said in a joint statement that the agreement Saturday included pay raises and other contract improvements.
Details were withheld by both sides pending a contract ratification vote Monday by the 650 members of the Professional Staff Nurses Association of the Ohio Nurses Association.
The union said members would begin returning to work promptly if the tentative contract is approved.
"I am delighted that our nurses, who are the benchmark for professional excellence in the Northeast Ohio region, should be returning in the next few days," said Alan J. Bleyer, president and CEO of Akron General Medical Center.
The union said the hospital had made "significant movement" on issues but didn't specify.
"We look forward to returning to our jobs and providing care for the greater Akron community," union secretary Holly Klein and co-chair Sandy Robinson said in the joint statement.
Point of contention
The union struck after rejecting a hospital offer of pay increases of 2.5 percent for three years. The union had asked for 3.5 percent each year.
Top hourly pay for nurses is $27.68, or about $1,107 for a 40-hour week.
The 500-bed hospital, which normally has about 400 patients, moved to trim its patient load during the strike by discharging where appropriate. Some ambulances were diverted to other hospitals.